LSRL partners with Airtel, HPCL for customer reward plan

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) Providing a marketing platform to 20,000 merchants in 20 cities across the country, Loyalty Solutions and Research Ltd (LSRL), an ICICI Venture firm, today launched a customer rewards programme in collaboration with India's six leading brands including Airtel, HPCL, ICICI Bank and Indian to provide customers a platform to reap benefits.

''There are many small shop owners who cannot bear to initiate a scheme like this. i-mint will be a marketing platform for this section, targeting at least 20,000 merchants over 20 cities across India,'' LSRL CEO Vijay Bobba told reporters.

The company has involved big names like Airtel, HPCL, ICICI Bank, Indian, Lifestyle and MakeMyTrip.com as its partners, Mr Bobba said.

i-mint customers will earn points on each transaction made from the partners involved. On each deal made, LSRL will authorise its partners to give the points according to their own plans that would be converted into interesting prizes.

On every transaction, a customer would get points between 1-30.

For one point each, a customer would get an amount of 50 paise.

After getting a minimum of 275 points, the shoppers and consumers can redeem over 300 prizes.

The rewards would be given to the customers within 48 hours to a maximum of three weeks, Mr Bobba said.

The company targets five million members to enroll for the i-mint cards, with 20,000 merchants in the first year across 20 cities of the country.

Initially, this loyality card has been launched in four cities-- Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad. This card would be launched in other cities very soon, the company CEO said.

i-mate will be available at 30,000 i-mint outlets in more than 20 cities across India over the next one year.

LSRL is offering 'free membership' as an introductory offer during the first month of the launch. Later, a nominal fee of Rs 100-200 would be charged as one-time enrollment fee, Mr Bobba said.

For enrolling, customers have multiple sources such as websites, SMS or over the counter at partner outlets.

The prizes include ipods, mountaineering lessons, skydiving and domestic and foreign holidays.

To increase point accumulation pace further, customers can aggregate and transfer points within family members.

The company plans to open more regional offices throughout the country. Presently, the company has two offices -- one each in Mumbai and Bangalore.

During the event, Indian Airlines Ltd Regional Sales Manager Niket Garg, ICICI Bank General Manager B Madhivanam, Bharti Airtel Ltd Delhi Circle CEO Chris Tobit, HPCL Executive Director SP Chaudhry, Lifestyle Intnl(P) Ltd North SVP Operations N Sathiyanarayanan and MakeMyTrip.com Founder and CEO Deep Kalra were also present.

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